Today’s game will see us up against Sam Allardyce who was manager at Newcastle for a short 8 months, before he was sacked at Newcastle last January.
Sam Allardyce – while Newcastle manager
Many Newcastle fans thought that in May of 2007, when Sam was appointed manager on Tyneside, that he was just the manager to bring out the best of an under-performing squad, but within weeks of him signing on at the club, Mike Ashley had bought the club, and Freddy Shepherd was out as Chairman.
Ashley and the new Chairman, Chris Mort, however, decided, at least initially, to keep Sam on board.
We didn’t do too bad under Sam with 26 points by the turn of the year and in 11th place in the league, better than we have done this season, but that wasn’t good enough for Chris Mort and Mike, and the rest is history.
But Nicky Butt seems to have got on well with Big Sam:
“I personally got on well with him,” He came here with his methods and all of his staff. They tried to change everything and to do that takes time.”
“Unfortunately for Sam he didn’t get that. That happened because there was massive change in the set-up at the club.”
“New owners came in and they have the right to choose any manager they want because they have spent so much money.”
“They obviously didn’t feel Sam was their man, which was unfortunate for him.”
“I think he can repair his reputation at Blackburn. Anyone can fail. He can easily go and do what he did at Bolton at Blackburn.”
“He has a good club there, with good players and I’m sure he will do very well. Hopefully not until after Saturday’s game.”
We on the blog (Ed) liked Sam Allardyce, mainly because he did his very best for the club, and you can hardly ask for more than that, and we were hoping (praying) that he could turn the club around.
Sam Allardyce is famed for a methodical approach unusual in English football and he has a massive staff, that Chris Mort had to bring in, and his staff didn’t come cheap.
Nicky continued:
“Everyone in the dressing room respected him,” “The methods he brought in were different to what we were used to but we all gave it a go.”“It wasn’t down to any of the players that he left.”
“He just wasn’t the right man for the job at the time. He just changed a few things tactically.”
“Sam thought it was the right way forward and it would help players but it didn’t work out.” “As players you have to take on board new ideas.”
“If a manager starts to makes changes and doing things he wants to do, you have to abide by them or you will not be in his plans much longer. It’s like it or lump it really.”
We’re pleased Sam has been given a chance at Blackburn Rovers, after being out of football management for almost 12 months, because he needs to be in football and he’s quite a personality, and the Blackburn club is probably better suited to him and his style. And we think he can do a good job for Rovers, given a little time to shape things up at Blackburn.
We wish Sam all the very best – but of course not today – so let’s rephrase that – we wish Sam the best after today’s game at Ewood Park.
We sure he’ll do just fine at Blackburn Rovers.
Comments welcome.
Note: when we say “we” on the blog – that’s what Ed thinks.
96 comments so far
sirjasontoon
Jan 17, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Comment #1I just hated the crap football.
Toon_Sydney
Jan 17, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Comment #2Eds typin articles like mad keep it up..yeh thought BSA needed time but his not goin great guns with b’burn is he?
sirjasontoon
Jan 17, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Comment #3I don’t hate him..just don’t rate him.
Alex
Jan 17, 2009 at 11:31 AM
Comment #4As sirjasontoon has pointed out the football under Sam was shite . The guy was obsessed with only getting clean sheets . Kinnear has done a better job with our defence and has the team playing to win .
batty
Jan 17, 2009 at 11:36 AM
Comment #5kinnear done jack sh ite worst manager ever and he will prove that when we get religated useless lying t wat
Joseph
Jan 17, 2009 at 11:38 AM
Comment #6one trick pony, only knows what to do when the opposition has the ball not when we had it
pdidy
Jan 17, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Comment #7I agree with Batty!
Kinnear is a lying C..t and a yes man. Right now I would take Big Sam. His football might be shite but at least he’s honest and I would welcome Fat Freddy back with open arms!
workyticket
Jan 17, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Comment #8Modern methods off the pitch, dour, old fashioned hacking on it. Massive ego too.
toonmick1
Jan 17, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Comment #9pdidy
I agree m8 fat freddy back would be a dream,fair enough he made mistakes but at least he loved the club,and tried to compete in the transfer market
alextoon
Jan 17, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Comment #10“We liked Sam Allardyce”
Who’s we? Personaly I thought, and still do think that the bloke is an arrogant git who refuses to accept any blame what-so-ever when results are not going right.
A bloke that said the reason he was so ”successfull” at Bolton was because he played to the teams strengths….but swore blind it would be different at Newcastle where in his own words he has “far more flair players”.
What did we see in his 8 months? We saw the most boring and unimaginitive football in the league. And what did we hear? Our own fans moaning about the so-called football on display.
Sam Allardyce has one style only…..he basicaly sets his teams out to fight relegation from day one…to play football in that mindset….punt the ball in to the opposition box and have 4 midfielders and 2 strikers all run like hell to try and cause panic in the area….basicaly playing football with the priority being to make the opposition make forced errors, fighting for the bouncing scraps od second and third balls and hopefully, with the likes of Amady Faye and Boumsong getting in the mix…we have a chance of ‘Nicking’something.
Bollocks, that’s not football and it’s not entertainment either.
Big Sam needs 15 assistants……I reckon I’d be a great lawyer if I had 15 ‘specialists’working for me….one specialised in Divorce, one in Criminal etc etc….and all I had to do was go and read from the papers they sent me.
Soz Big Sam…..but you aint all that.
workyticket
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Comment #11toonmick1 // Jan 17, 2009 at 11:53 AM
“pdidy
I agree m8 fat freddy back would be a dream,”
Er, no thanks. Good riddance to FFS. He was driving this club to extinction.
batty
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:09 PM
Comment #12PLZ FREDDY IF UR WATCHING COME BACK PLZ BRING BACK GEORDIE FRED
batty
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:11 PM
Comment #13ASHLEY WILL MAKE US EXSTINC
simon376
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:12 PM
Comment #14According to all the accounts I used to get sent, Freddy wasn’t sending the club into extinction. Yes he took out far too much in dividends, but we still had a club and a team. Ashely is the one who won’t invest and sending the club down.
As for debt, I don’t know if its been paid off or reduced or whatever, but we had enough people coming through the doors and tv money to keep us afloat. If we go down and keep playing dire football, the tv revenue will reduce and so will the crowds, it will take years to get back to where we are now, never mind where we used to be. At least under freddy, we had somebody who wanted the team to do well and the worldwide fan base to be entertained
I didnt agree with all of the things freddy did, but I can’t say I agree with any of Ashleys apart from sacking big sam who should never have been brought in (yes I know that was by our old owner) he is almost as bad if not worse than our current manager
Toon1978
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Comment #15Excellent article on the state of NUFC please read and respond.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/columnists/reade/2009/01/17/clown-joe-kinnear-could-turn-newcastle-into-biggest-laughing-stock-in-the-championship-115875-21048140/
a.l 9
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Comment #16Toon1978 is that article by a Geordie with some decent views or some clown from down south having a pop?
Just before I read it I would prefer to have some sensible views than some stuck up muppet jumping on the bandwaggon.
Spyro
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:25 PM
Comment #17I thought that article was abit poo tbh. I mean, we have 10 first teamers injured, a clueless manager, minimum coaches, a chairman who doesnt actually know what hes supposed to be doing and an owner who just refuses to do whats best for his club.
And where higher in the league than two teams who’ve invested very heavily recently and have proven managers and boards willing to spend silly money constantly.
If where a laughing stock, id suggest city and spurs aren’t in to much of a better position.
Toon1978
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Comment #18a.i 9
Its a good article ridiculing the NUFC board and it seems to have sympathy with the NUFC fans.
a.l 9
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Comment #19We’ll allways be the laughing stock though Spyro because thats the way the bollox media intend it to be, be it through jelousy of the fact that we actualy have a decent set or fans I dont know, they will allways be some naff story about us somewhere.
a.l 9
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Comment #20Thanks Toon mate i’ll give it a look in a minute
Toon1978
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Comment #21Spyro
You say the article is poo mate but you have basically said the same thing as what is said in the article!!!!!!hmmmm.
Toon Graeme
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Comment #22Ok here is a thought.
What team (apart from Bolton) will know hoe sams tactics and play style will work. Give, Mo, and Butt (players under FSA)
That experience should be used as a leapard doesnt change his spots. Ive got a feeling we are gonna go out all guns blazing today. Problem is so are Blackburn to get out the bottom 3 though!
They are well rested and Wigan were well rested and they kicked us all over.
However – Wigan are on top form and doing well. Blackburn aint. Its not just the managers fault they are in the bottom 3 is it?! The same could be said for us.
Goals for NUFC and lots of saves by Given = 3 points
workyticket
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:33 PM
Comment #23Toon1978 // Jan 17, 2009 at 12:18 PM
“Excellent article on the state of NUFC please read and respond.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/columnists/reade/2009/01/17/clown-joe-kinnear-could-turn-newcastle-into-biggest-laughing-stock-in-the-championship-115875-21048140/”
Just a cynical journalist telling the idiots what they want to hear again.
Toon1978
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:33 PM
Comment #24Anyway, this Slovenian kid, they say he is a bright prospect and had a trial with AC. Well why ain’t AC snapped him up if he is all that??
heavyhittas
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Comment #25I didnt rate Allardyce and hated his boring long ball philosophy. However, I never dreamed we would end up with Kinnear. Joe Kinnear comes across as wanting the image of an LG (London Gangster), he has no charisma and imo is an obnoxious, horrible little man who was on the dole for a number of years until he was taken on by Ronnie and Reggie (Mike and Dennis).
As long as Ashley owns the club this imbecile will be our manager as he is quite simply Ashley’s yes man and a complete and utter PR liabilty. In short the man is an idiot and will cause us more problems than enough on and off the field over the next few seasons !!
pdidy
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Comment #26The article in the Daily Mirror is spot on. Especially the comment made about the the difference in class betwen Kinnear and The Great Sir Bobby Robson.
What exactly is the Current regime up to?
Toon1978
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Comment #27Workyticket
I hate the southern press or any for that matter but when the truth is being told then i don’t mind, heard the old saying “the truth hurts” well as much as that article hurt me as a toon fan you couldn’t get any closer to the truth and i have read this blokes articles in the Mirror on many occasions and have disagreed with everything he has spouted about our club but i am afraid that one hits the nail on the head.
RyanToon
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Comment #28the mirror what a joke, the hull game the worst hes ever seen? WTF we should of battered them, how bout when liverpool beat us 5-1!!!!!!!!!!!!, some things are true but nothing we dont already know
Spyro
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Comment #29a.l – agreed
Toon – No, the article mentions city and spurs, then point blank refuses to accept that they could be a laughing stock themselves without any justification. Just seems like another unnecessary dig and Joe and our team.
Toon1978
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Comment #30Ryantoon
Yes we should of battered Hull but we didn’t they got through we didn’t,simple as that. You can play fantastic football all day but what matters is the ball hitting the back of the net otherwise whats the point in being there.
Toon1978
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Comment #31Spyro
The southern press are always going to be biast its just the way it is, Spurs are a laughing stock but at least they have an owner who will back him all the way unlike our parcel of rubbish.
tino97
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Comment #32Anyone confident about todays match? How do you think we will do? Would love to beat fat Sam!
Toon1978
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Comment #33Tino
my heart says a win mate, we seem to be doing better away from home of late, lets go for 1-2 win for the lads.
tino97
Jan 17, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Comment #34I don’t think Blackburn have too much to hurt us. But at set pieces, we might have a problem! They will rely on this and defending set pieces isn’t our strong point. I would take a draw now, be over the moon with a win though. we deserve a bit of luck to be honest! Might be our day!
The Real Entertainers
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:04 PM
Comment #35What is happening to our club ?
JFK has said
We’ve spoken to Rangers about Ferguson
Rangers say we havent!
JFK has said
We’ve spoken to Wham about Niell
Wham say we havent !
Smith said we have tried to sell him behind his back
JFK says we havent !
JFK said
Geremi is in talks in Turkey
Geremi said no he has’nt!
When i said i would love the club to communicate with us more, i didnt want any old, in the words of JFK,……. ‘crap!’
Spyro
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:05 PM
Comment #36Im going to stick a bet on 2-1 to the toon like. I just hope its Bassong picking up Roque on the set plays becouse I think he’ll give Collo a horrid time in the air. Hopefully charlie and Jonas will beable to cause problems down the left and get a few good balls in for Carroll. Really hoping this is the last game of the season we’ve got to rely on guthrie and Butt through the middle!
NUFC-OMS
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Comment #37The football under Sam was garbage it made Dalglish look good ffs. But I think things are gonna blow up again pretty soon. No new signings, Kinnear being offered an extension?! What has he done to deserve that? Weve only won 4 games since he took over and were hardly playing like Brazil are we?
If the unthinkable happens on Feb 1st Id expect to see JFK, Wise, Ashley the whole lot out of here ASAP.
beyethegreat
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:08 PM
Comment #38http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haris_Vu%C4%8Dki%C4%87
Toon1978
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Comment #39Spyro
Any decent midfield will cut through our midfield like a hot knife through butter. Butt is past his best and Guthrie should be a bench warmer ATM. We seriously need a creative and defensive midfielder quickly and signing a 16 year old does not bloody count Mr JK and Ashley.
tino97
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Comment #40If we get defeated today, it will be panic stations. Looking at our remaining fixtures we need to be picking up points today. We need to start doing the business against teams near us!